Anatomy and Physiology - Muscle Types and Respiratory System

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing basic muscle physiology, respiratory structures, mechanics of breathing, and gas exchange.

Skeletal muscle

Also known as voluntary muscle, this tissue generally works in pairs, provides structure, mobility, protection, and heat, and is under conscious control.

Smooth muscle

Also known as involuntary muscle, this tissue is found in blood vessels, the bronchial tree, and the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum.

Myocardium

Heart muscle tissue, which is physically and functionally distinct from other muscle types and possesses automaticity.

Automaticity

The unique property of heart muscle tissue to generate its own electrical impulse independent of the brain or central nervous system.

Respiration

The physiological process defined specifically as the exchange of gases.

External respiration

The primary function of the respiratory system, defined as the exchange of gases with the outside environment.

Ventilation

The physical movement of air in and out of a person.

Trachea

A rigid airway tube located directly below the Adam's apple that is supported by calcified cartilage rings.

Tracheal rings

Calcified cartilage rings that maintain the structural rigidity of the trachea.

Carina

The anatomical area in the chest where the trachea terminates and splits into the right and left main stem bronchi.

Right main stem bronchus

The branch of the main stem bronchus that extends straight down, making it prone to catching inhaled foreign objects or overly advanced endotracheal tubes.

Alveoli

Approximately 700,000,000 microscopic, semi-permeable air sacs at the ends of the bronchial tree where gas exchange occurs.

Semi-permeable

A property of alveolar walls that allows certain substances or gases to pass through while preventing others from doing so.

Visceral pleura

A smooth, flexible, plastic-wrap-like tissue membrane that directly covers the outside of the lungs.

Parietal pleura

A smooth tissue membrane lining the interior of the chest cavity that works with fluid surface tension to adhere the lungs to the chest wall.

Cilia

Microscopic, hair-like fibers lining the bronchial tree and nasal passages that move in a wave-like formation to elevate and clear debris from the lungs.

Intercostal muscles

Muscles located between the ribs that contract during inhalation to pull the ribs up and closer together, expanding the chest cavity.

Diaphragm

A dome-shaped muscle about a quarter of an inch thick separating the chest from the abdomen that flattens downward during contraction to increase chest volume.

Inhaled air composition

Air drawn into the lungs composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases.

Exhaled air composition

Air expelled from the lungs composed of 78% nitrogen, 16% oxygen, 1% other gases, and 5% carbon dioxide ($CO_2$).

Skeletal muscle

Also known as voluntary muscle, this tissue generally works in pairs, provides structure, mobility, protection, and heat, and is under conscious control.

Muscle force production

The physiological rule stating that muscles can only produce force by contracting, never by pushing.

Smooth muscle

Also known as involuntary muscle, this tissue is found in blood vessels, the bronchial tree, and the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum.

Myocardium

Heart muscle tissue, which is physically and functionally distinct from other muscle types and possesses automaticity.

Automaticity

The unique property of heart muscle tissue to generate its own electrical impulse independent of the brain or central nervous system.

Respiration

The physiological process defined specifically as the exchange of gases.

External respiration

The primary function of the respiratory system, defined as the exchange of gases with the outside environment.

Ventilation

The physical movement of air in and out of a person.

Trachea

A rigid airway tube located directly below the Adam's apple that is supported by calcified cartilage rings.

Tracheal rings

Calcified cartilage rings that maintain the structural rigidity of the trachea.

Carina

The anatomical area in the chest where the trachea terminates and splits into the right and left main stem bronchi.

Right main stem bronchus

The branch of the main stem bronchus that extends straight down, making it prone to catching inhaled foreign objects or overly advanced endotracheal tubes.

Alveoli

Approximately $700{,}000{,}000$ microscopic, semi-permeable air sacs at the ends of the bronchial tree where gas exchange occurs.

Semi-permeable

A property of alveolar walls that allows certain substances or gases to pass through while preventing others from doing so.

Visceral pleura

A smooth, flexible tissue membrane that directly covers the outside of the lungs.

Parietal pleura

A smooth tissue membrane lining the interior of the chest cavity that works with fluid surface tension to adhere the lungs to the chest wall.

Pleural surface tension

The liquid adhesion between the visceral and parietal pleura that holds the elastic lungs expanded against the interior chest wall.

Pneumothorax cause

An interruption or loss of pleural surface tension (such as from a chest wound), causing the naturally elastic lung tissue to collapse.

Alveolar surface area

The total flattened surface area provided by all alveolar walls combined, equivalent to approximately half of a tennis court.

Cilia

Microscopic, hair-like fibers lining the bronchial tree and nasal passages that move in a wave-like formation to elevate and clear debris from the lungs.

Intercostal muscles

Muscles located between the ribs that contract during inhalation to pull the ribs up and closer together, expanding the chest cavity.

Diaphragm

A dome-shaped muscle about a quarter of an inch thick separating the chest from the abdomen that flattens downward during contraction to increase chest volume.

Inhalation mechanism

The process where the diaphragm flattens and intercostals expand the chest cavity, creating negative pressure that pulls air into the lungs.

Exhalation mechanism

The passive process where the diaphragm and intercostals relax and elastic lungs recoil, decreasing chest volume and creating positive pressure that expels air.

Hiccup

An involuntary muscle spasm of the diaphragm.

Inhaled air composition

Air drawn into the lungs composed of $78\%$ nitrogen, $21\%$ oxygen, and $1\%$ other gases.

Exhaled air composition

Air expelled from the lungs composed of $78\%$ nitrogen, $16\%$ oxygen, $1\%$ other gases, and $5\%$ carbon dioxide ($CO_2$).